Daniel menzie mclellan



(No Model.)

D. M. MoLELLAN.

SHOW CARD.

No. 330,250. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

NITED STATES PATENT rrrono SHOW-CARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,250, dated Novembez'lO, 1885.

Application filed August 30, 1884. Serial No. 141,814.

(No model.) Patented in England December 5, 1884, No. 16,033.

.7" 0 all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be itknown that I, DANIEL MENZIE MOLEL- LAN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Show-Cards and Analogous Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of show-cards, panels, signs, tablets, and analogous articles. These articles, as now generally constructed of pasteboard, paper, or cardboard, though of considerable thickness, possess but little rigidity, are easily torn or broken, are liable to warp, and, when embossed, do not at first possess that sharpness of outline which is desirable, nor retain that originally imparted.

The object of my invention is to so construct these articles that they shall possess greater stiffness and strength, so as to endure longer, that they shall not warp, and that wh n mbossed they shall exhibit a sharpness and distinctness of outline not heretofore attained.

To this end my invention consists in combining with the imprinted material a thin sheet of metal, and subsequently embossing the compound sheet so formed, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a show-card embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal crosssection of the same. Fig. 3 shows the front and back partly separated from the metal sheet after having been united thereto.

The material on which the design or illustration is to be imprinted may be of paper, textile fabrics, thin leather, or thin veneer, and is pasted, glued, or cemented to the surface of a thin sheet of tin, iron, brass, or copper, or any other metal possessing the desired qualities. The rear side of said metal sheet is covered either before or after its union with the imprinted sheet with paper or other material, and this covering may also carry a design or illustration or printed matter the same as or differing from that on the face side. The sheet so prepared is then em bossed in the usual manner. The design or illustration only may be embossed, or the border or margin only, or both may be so treated as the nature of the case will determine.

In the construction of show-cards the border or margin may be embossed to form a frame of any desired outline or design, and the said margin suitably printed to correspond therewith. This frame may be made as elaborate as desired, and may be printed in sev eral colors. The design or illustration,whether embossed or not, is surrounded preferably by a mat struck up from the sheet. The so completed article may properly be said to be mounted and framed. By this embossing of the margin to form a frame the article is rendered far more rigid than it otherwise would be, and the necessity for applying a separate frame is obviated, thus improving the article as a whole, besides greatly reducing its cost of production.

The central design or illustration is embossed in all cases where the margin is not embossed to form or represent a frame.

The employment of thin metal sheets permits paper of much less thickness to be used, and the compound sheet is therefore thinner than the sheets of cardboard, pasteboard,

or paper now used. This compound sheet of thin metal and of relatively thin paper firmly adherent thereto gives excellent results when embossed. Greater sharpness of outline is secured, and the original sharpness of outline is always retained. A more perfect article is therefore produced, and the small details of a design may be represented with greater exactness than has heretofore been possible.

Any hollow part or parts of the back, whether of the framing or the central design, may be filled in with any light material-such as sawdust and glue, paper, or wood-puipand the entire back, or as much thereof as necessary, covered by paper or a thin woodpulp board, to give a finish to the same.

Referring to the drawings, or represents the thin metal sheet, and b the imprinted sheet glued thereto. The back of the metal sheet is covered by a thin sheet of paper, 0. Frame 12 surrounds the mat 6, both being struck up from the compound sheet, and the said mat surrounds the central design or illustration, f. The hollow parts of the back are filled with any light material, as heretofore described, and said material is designated by g in the drawings. By the use of this embedded metal sheet or plate it is possible to use textile fab- IOC rics for carrying the design, picture, or illustration, and when silk is used avery superior show-card or panel may be produced.

I am aware that paper carrying a picture or design has been united to a plate of sheet metal without embossing of the paper or metal, as described in English Provisional Specification N o. 1734 of 1875.

I am also aware that a check or counter has been made composed of a base or body of artificial ivory or other composition capable of being molded in a plastic state, said base being united to paper having a design printed, painted, or stamped thereon, the union and finish of said paper design and its composition base or body being effected by compression between heated dies; and I am also aware that ametal-faced tile, composed of a sheet of metal and a sheet of felt or other coarse paper, secured together by overlapping the edges of the metal on the paper, with reliefdesigns on its surface, is old, and to these constructions I lay no claim.

I am also aware that a sheet-metal showcard has had its central portion surrounded with the resemblance of a frame and its edges struck up to the form of the frame represented, as set forth in Patent No. 162,912, to L. O. Goodale.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1S--- 1. Ashow-card or sign consisting of an imprinted sheet of relatively thin paper or equivalent material, constituting the face, united to a plate of thin metal and embossed to correspond with or as indicated by the printed matter on said face, substantially as described.

2. A show'card or sign consisting of an imprinted sheet of relatively thin paper or equivalent material, constituting the face, united to a plate of thin metal, and the imprinted margin or border embossed in the form of a frame, the whole constituting a combined show-card, mount, and frame, substantially as described.

3. A show-card or sign consisting of an imprinted sheet of relatively thin paper or equivalent material, constituting the face, united to a plate of thin metal, the imprinted margin or border embossed in the form of a frame, and the design within the frame embossed on lines indicated by the same, the.

whole constituting a combined show-card, mount, and frame, substantially as described.

4. A show-card or sign consisting of a sheet of paper or equivalent material, carrying a design or illustration, united to a plate of thin metal, the margin'or border embossed in the form of a frame and the hollow parts of the back filled with wood pulp or equivalent material, substantially as described.

5. A show-card or sign consisting of a sheet of paper or equivalent material, carrying a design or illustration, united to a plate of thin metal covered by a suitable backing and embossed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL MENZIE MOLELLAN.

Witnesses:

J. H. WESTERFIELD, J. P. STORM. 

